Chapter 58

The doors of the classroom nearly flew open as the woman stormed in, eyes flashing in anger. Most of the students, the smart, observant ones at least, cowered back immediately. Others were stupidly ignorant of her mood as usual.

One, however, one merely stared back without fear or confusion.

Their eyes met and for a second the world around seemed to fade into the background.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor."

Snape's words broke the silence, causing obvious outrage amongst the 'lions'. Harry, in the meantime, merely stared back the only indication that he understood was a flash of anger in his emerald eyes and a twitching of his lips.

Without breaking the stare, she answered the protests, "Poor preparation," her voice rang out, earning silence, "Amaryllis Potter does not have her book open and ready. I expect better."

His fingers were twitching, fighting the urge to retaliate. So much like his mother in that regards. Finally, she turns and continues towards her desk.

"Begin gathering your ingredients, we will go over the instructions once you are done."

As she sat her mind went back to the reason for her sour mood. It wasn'tjust Lockhart, it wasn't just Riddle, now it was both of them. She was the most obvious choice for instructor for the boy. Not only had she been among the top duelists of her class, even Riddle couldn't have debated that, but she was more than proficient in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions.

If James and Lily wanted their son to not just succeed, but thrive, then there were few who could compare to her level of expertise and knowledge. Yet she hadn't even been considered because of their past.

Had she not proven herself yet? Had she not made amends through her own actions, her own behavior? True, she might be harsh on the sisters, but it was for their own betterment. Too often did professors go easy on their 'favorites' and deep down she knew that McGonagall would be doing so. If the two adult Potters would not see what she could offer Harry, then hopefully the boy would.

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A book slammed down onto the desk, earning some attention from others in the library but those glares were quickly frightened away by the one returned by a certain bushy-haired Witch.

"What's wrong Hermione?" Harriet inquired, earning a huff as the girl sat down and spun the book around so that the others at the table could read the title.

Masculum Vitam

"Male life?"

"Have you read this trash!?" The two sisters blinked, before shaking their heads, Harry followed as well, having never heard of the book in either world. "It's disgusting! I found it in the historical section of the bookstore on sale and bought it without realizing what it was. I only got through the first chapter before having to put it down. It's all about a 'man's role' about how he should just do as he's told, be married off, then support his wife and stand in her shadow like some sort of… of… object!"

She was panting now, red in the face with frustration and nearly quivering in anger. Harry could only imagine a similar reaction when 'his Hermione' had learned about the House Elves of Hogwarts. What none of the Potters considered, however, was Hermione noticing their reactions, or lack thereof.

"I thought you said you hadn't read it…"

"What? No, we haven't."

"But you aren't surprised." It came out as something between a question and accusation.

Glancing at each other the trio remained silent for a moment, before Harry shrugged, "I never heard of the book, but I've been learning about how men are treated for the past year. Plus, during the summer my parents… well they set up an apprenticeship with Professor Riddle. Apparently, it's a common way to make men more 'valuable'."

Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth, probably to start a lecture of some kind when the boy beat her to it.

"I don't like it either Hermione but where I came from, I didn't exactly take my studies seriously enough and my goals for graduation were 'don't die and maybe something with Quidditch'. Learning some of this stuff isn't a bad thing, and yeah, it's a bit humiliating to know how reliant men can be on women to get a job but screaming and shouting about it won't fix anything."

His words took the wind from her sail as it were, and she glanced over at his sisters.

"He told us during the summer, and it's awful but we can't fix it when we're in school. Maybe once we graduate, we can really work on changing opinions and society but that takes time." Harriet noted, earning a nod from her sister. "Until then all we can do is support him."

"Plus, hex anyone who makes those comments behind his back. Speaking of which, Harry why don't you do that more often? I mean it isn't like you couldn't whoop our entire class when it comes to defense."

Harry rolled his eyes in response, as if it should be obvious, "Because the ones in our year are practically children to me. I was a fifth year remember? It wouldn't be appropriate for me to just start hurting first years because they are mean to me."

"Okay," Amy nodded, "I get that, but physically you are the same size, right? Punch them in their smug faces."

This earned an open, almost horrified, stare from the boy. "I… I can't hit a girl, Amy!"

Surprisingly, it wasn't the redhead who replied, but her sister. "Why not? They are being rude to you."

"Because… because I just can't. Boys aren't allowed to hit girls."

For a moment he was beyond confused as to why none of them understood, but realization smacked him in the face a second later. "Okay, how about this. Amy, would you ever punch Crabbe or Goyle in the face if they were being mean to you?"

Now it was her turn to look downright horrified. "Wh-what? Of course not!"

"Why not?"

"Because you can't just punch…" she trailed off, understanding shining in her eyes along with the other two witches.

Harry nodded at the unspoken answer, "Exactly, because you just can't. In my world boys couldn't hit girls, period, end of statement. It just wasn't done and if it did happen it was considered abuse or worse."

The raven-haired girl, once again, made her attempted justification, "But we aren't in your world Harry. Despite what our sister thinks you still shouldn't just assault someone, but if the situation called for it you wouldn't be punished the same way as if a girl hit you."

"It doesn't matter about the punishment. It matters that I was raised knowing it isn't acceptable. You don't hit girls. I can't just turn off fifteen years of life just because I'm somewhere new."

Even with the new bit of understanding Amy still crossed her arms with a huff, "I still wouldn't mind seeing you punch Malfoy in the face…"

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